Memorandum &#34;pads&#34; and the like



Dec. 8, 1959 F. GREIF MEMORANDUM "PADS" AND THE LIKE Filed D80. 24, 1956 Unite States This invention relates to momorandum pads and the like and has for its object to provide such devices of great utility and robust construction.

According to the present invention a memorandum pad comprises a casing of sheet metal or other suitable material having on the interior two pairs of axially aligned bearings which detachably support a reel between each pair, the two reels, termed the first and second reels, being parallel, spaced apart a desired distance and connected by a lengthy strip of paper which is rolled around each reel in such a manner that whilst the paper is being unwound from one reel it is simultaneously wound on to the other.

The casing also includes bearings for a driving shaft which can be power or manuallydriven at will in either direction, and is connected to two spindles coupled with and co-axial with the said two reels, by a separate pulley and belt gearing for each spindle, each said separate gearing connection including its own individual one-way free-wheel device so that when the driving shaft is turned in one direction the first reel is driven to wind the paper thereon from the second reel, the spindle of this secnd reel turning to allow the paper to be unwound therefrom and the free-Wheel device associated with the second reel operating to compensate for the variation in diameter of the two reels of paper whilst when the shaft is driven in the opposite direction the second reel is driven to wind the paper from the first reel, the spindle of this first reel turning to allow the paper to be unwound therefrom and the free-wheel device associated with the first reel operating to compensate for the variation in diameter of the two rolls of paper.

The casing includes a table over which 'the paper lying between the two reels passes, and the casing is closed by an upper thickness which may serve as a lid or cover and which when in position is just above the table and has a window or opening therein which is so disposed and of such dimensions that a portion ofthe outer surface of the paper situated above the table is accessible therethrough to be written upon.

The driving shaft in some cases can be that of a small electric motor, the circuit and control for which can be such that it can be driven in either direction. In one arrangement two batteries are provided and each is included in a circuit having a switch, the connection being such that when one switch is depressed the motor is driven in one direction from one of the batteries, and when the other switch is operated the motor is driven in the other direction from the other battery.

Whatever the particular construction may be, in all cases "it is possible, by causing the driving shaft to be turned in one direction, to move the paper over the table in one direction (a) to bring the already written upon portion into the casing and Wind it on one of the reels, and (b) to bring a fresh blank portion of the paper into position upon the table already to be written upon and to repeat this movement as many times as required, or by causing the driving shaft to be turned in the other atent i direction, to move the paper over the table in either direction (c) in order to return the last Written upon portion of the paper back onto the table to enable this to be seen, and to repeat this return movement as many times as required, for example to bring any particularly required previously made memo or note onto the table for reference purposes.

In order that the invention may be better understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of one embodiment of the invention which includes a small electric motor.

Fig. 3 is an under plan of Fig. 1 with the closing plate removed.

Figs, 4 and 5 are sections on the lines IVIV and VV (Fig. 3) respectively.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, partly in section.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary enlarged details in sectional elevation.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical connections of the batteries and electric motor shown in Figs. 1 to 6.

In Figs. 1 to 9 an outer casing has an upper portion 19 which occupies a more or less horizontal plane and has a rectangular window or Opening 20 therein. It also has four downwardly extending walls, namely a back 21, a front 22 and sides 23. At the base the back and sides are turned round into flanges and the sides provided with parallel runners such as 24, Figs, 4, 5

and 6, to receive a closing plate 25.

26 is a table of sheet metal which is held between the underside of the top 19 and the back 21, and this is disposed slightly below the window or opening 20. On its underside this has bounding walls 27, a mid dividing plate 28, and a support 2 to receive two flat dry batteries 30 and 31. The back 21 has secured thereto in the neighbourhood of the batteries, blocks of insulating material 32 and 33 to carry contact-making springs 34 and 35. The arrangement is such that when the batteries are in position, the short tongue 36 of one battery is in springy contact with the contact-making member 34 whilst its long tongue 37 is in forced contact with the mid dividing plate 28, and the short tongue 38 of the battery 31 is in contact with the mid dividing plate 28 whilst its long tongue 39 is in contact with the contactmaking spring 35. It will be realised that the mid driving plate 28 is in electrical contact with the sheet metal of the casing.

The front 22 of the device on the interior carries a block of insulating material 40 which serves as a support for a small electric motor 41 having a driving shaft 42 which is geared by belts 43 and 44 to pulleys 45 and 46 hereafter referred to.

Towards the two front corners the front 22 and top '19 of the casin'g support switch devices 47 and 48. The portion of each coming within the casing comprises, as shown in Fig. 6, a block of insulating material 49. This has secured thereto towards its upper end; by screws, a spring contact 50, and towards its lower end a cooperating contact spring 51. Normally these contact springs have a desired gap between them which is'ada'pted to be closed to complete an electrical circuit upon the depression of the push-button of the switch 47 or 48 as the case maybe. The springiness of the contact 50 restores the switch to the inoperative position when the pressure on the button is removed.

One terminal of the motor 41 is connected to the easing as indicated at 52 (Fig. 9) and the other terminal is branched on conductor which includes the two switches 47 and 4-8 in its circuit. The switch 48 is connected to the spring contact 35 and the switch 47 to the spring contact. 34. The connection of the mid dividing plate 28 to the casing is indicated at 53. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 9 that when the switch 47 is closed the circuit is completed with the battery 30 as the power to drive the motor 41. However, owing to the disposition of the short and long tongues of this battery, the current fiows in one direction through the motor and causes drive in one direction. I

When the switch 43 is in operation, the battery 31 energises the circuit and by the connection of its tongues 38 and 39 the current is caused to flow through the motor in the reverse direction to that when the switch 47 is depressed. As a consequence, the motor turns in the other direction.

The top 19 of the casing has secured thereto towards the rear and adjacent the sides, springy bearing brackets 54 (Fig. 8) the springy arm of which carries a stud 55 which forms a stub spindle and is adapted to take into one end of a reel 56 upon which paper is to be wound.

The top 19 also has secured thereto in axial alignment with the two bearing brackets 54, other bearing brackets 57 (Fig. 7). Each of these carries the stub spindle 58 having made integral therewith on one side of the bracket a head 59 having a tongue 60 which projects axially on each side thereof. This tongue engages in diametric slots at the other end of the reel 56 so that when the stub spindle is turned the reel 56 is caused to turn therewith.

On one stub spindle 58 the pulley 45 is loosely mounted and on the other stub spindle the pulley 46 is similarly mounted. Each stub spindle projects through the pulley and has mounted thereon a gripping torsion spring 61 one end of which is secured at 62 to the pulley 45 or 46, as the case may be, whilst the other end is free. The torsion spring 61 adjacent the pulley 45 is of one hand, that is, right or left hand, and the torsion spring adjacent the pulley 46 is of the opposite hand. The arrangement is such that when the pulley 4 or 46, as the case may be, is driven by the motor in one direction, it causes its torsion spring 61 to grip its spindle 58 and impart a positive drive to the associated reel 56. When, however, the pulley 45 or 46, as the case may be, is driven in the opposite direction, then its torsion spring is loosened on the spindle 58 and although the pulley is being driven from the motor it need not carry with it its spindle 58 but can move in relation thereto to compensate the drive. As will be seen, the springs 61 act as free wheel devices.

63 is the long paper strip which when first mounted in the device is wound on one of the reels 56. It will be appreciated that this reel is readily mounted in position by first engaging its diametrically slotted end with the projection 60 of one of the spindles 58, the co-operating stud 55 of the spring bearing 54 then being sprung into position. The free end of the paper strip is then threaded in the device to pass over the table 26 and brought to the other reel 56 which is already mounted in position. It is secured to this reel in any suitable manner, for example by an adhesive, and then this reel is driven by the motor to take up paper thereon. It will be appreciated that as the apparatus operates, two rolls 64 and 65 of paper of varying diameters between a minimum and a maximum are built up on the reels. A portion 66 of the paper becomes visible through the window 20 and can be written upon. When this is filled and it is desired that a fresh portion shall be brought into position, then one of the switches, for example 47, is operated to wind up the paper on to the adjacent reel and to wind paper from the other reel. The circuit is maintained for as long a period as necessary to bring the fresh portion of paper into position.

Should it at any time be necessary to refer back to information, data or particulars already written upon the paper snip, then the other switch is operated, which causes the paper to be wound back. The circuit is maintained until the required position is reached, when the 4 switch is released. It will be understood that the free whee devices comprised by the torsion springs 61 permit the positive drive of one of the reels and the compensated, what may be termed let off drive of the other reel.

The belts 43 and 44 may be constructed of any suitable material. For example, in some cases this may be a strong elastic cord, a braided nylon or like cord, or even a fine wire helical spring.

What I claim is:

l. A memorandum pad comprising a rectangular prismatic casing having a rectangular top wall of relatively large area adapted to occupy a horizontal plane, a vertical front, back and side walls formed integral with said top wall, and a closing base co-extensive with said top wall and removably attached to the lower ends of the front and sides, said top wall having a rectangular opening forming a window with its boundaries spaced from the bounding edges of said top wall, together with a table spaced from and located beneath the window and of slightly greater area than the window, the front and side edges of the table having downwardly directed flanges which stop short of the interior surface of the base and form a space adapted to receive flat electrical batteries, and two pairs of bearings depending from the underside of the top, each bearing being adapted to support two axially aligned stub spindles each two axially aligned stub spindles supporting and driving a readily detachable reel so that the reels are in spaced-apart parallel arrangement, the axis of one reel being adjacent and parallel to one side of the casing and between this side and a side flange of the table, and the axis of the other reel being adjacent and parallel to the other side of the casing and between said other side and the other side flange of the table, the two reels being connected by a lengthy strip of paper which passes over the table and is rolled around each reel in such manner that when the paper is being unwound from one reel it is simultaneously wound on the other, the front of the casing on the interior in an intermediate position having secured thereto a small electric motor the armature shaft of which is horizontal and projects inwardly and has mounted at its inner free end pulley wheels, while each of the stub axles in driving connection with the wheels has a pulley thereon connected by belt to a pulley on the motor shaft, the electric motor being connected in two electrical circuits each of which includes a flat battery and each circuit including an operating switch the actuating part of which projects from the top of the casing in such manner that when one switch is operated the motor runs in one direction, causing the paper to move across the table from one end to the other, while when the other switch is operated the motor runs in the other direction and causes the paper to move across the table in a reverse direction.

2. A memorandum pad as claimed in claim 1 in which parts of the electrical circuits between the batteries and the motor are constituted by portions of the casing, the batteries being of the type having exterior spring tongues to make contact with the circuit portions of the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,771 Sheppey et al. Oct. 20, 1896 2,328,055 Olough Aug. 31, 1943 2,431,784 White Dec. 2, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,579 Great Britain Dec. 2, 1887 of 1887 

